Black Huckleberry
Vaccinium membranaceum
Appearance
The black huckleberry is a deciduous shrub that grows to one-and-a-half metres tall and has finely toothed leaves that turn purple in the fall. They have small yellow or pinkish flowers in spring that ripen into large purple-black berries. The berries taste great and are eaten by many birds and mammals.
Range & habitat
Black huckleberries are common throughout B.C., especially in the Central Interior. They like to live in woodland areas with some shade, and often grow in large patches.
reciprocal relationships
Black huckleberry is an important plant for animals throughout the province. Most notably, the berries are a huge component in the diets of grizzly bears and black bears in the fall. The whole plant has importance though! Grouse will eat the leaves, and the twigs are eaten by grazers like caribou and elk. Some argue that they produce the most delicious berries of the huckleberry family in midsummer. New plants grow from spreading underground stems.
Black Huckleberry is an important food in many First Nations communities. These berries can be eaten fresh, cooked, or dried into cakes. Other ways of preparing the berries include the Stoney tradition of cooking the berries and mixing them with dried meat for pemmican, and the Kwakwaka’wakw tradition of cooking the berries with salmon roe.
Black Huckleberry is an important food in many First Nations communities. These berries can be eaten fresh, cooked, or dried into cakes. Other ways of preparing the berries include the Stoney tradition of cooking the berries and mixing them with dried meat for pemmican, and the Kwakwaka’wakw tradition of cooking the berries with salmon roe.
more information
If you belong to a First Nation with a story or piece of information not represented here and you would like to share more about this species, please email us at education@sierraclub.bc.ca.
photo credit
Canva
